While most slept in after celebrating new year’s eve, 43 nordic skiers started the new year off by skiing in below zero temperatures at Giants Ridge ski camp.

Every year the Nordic Ski team takes a three day trip to the camp, which is located north of Duluth, MN. This year, the skiers had to cope with extremely cold weather, skiing on the trails for hours at a time in -30 degree weather.

“We really learned how to train our lungs to breath in colder weather,” said Trey Taylor, junior.

Along with conditioning twice a day in the cold weather, the skiers also had a time trial against Southwest.

“We skied a 5k in negative 32 degree weather, and luckily we all finished, which was pretty satisfying,” said Jordan Dunnewind, sophomore.

The girls nordic team ended up beating southwest in the time trial. This was a big confidence booster for Emma Burnett, junior.

“It gave us more confidence on the course, and especially for beating other teams that are really good,” said Burnett.

18 of the HHS nordic skiers used ski camp as preparation for the Mesabi race, which is the largest one day meet in the nation, held on Jan. 10 and Jan. 11, at Giants Ridge. Ski camp gave them a chance to practice on the course and scout out their competition.

“I didn’t know much about Southwest’s upper varsity. I knew they were good, but I didn’t know exactly how we would compare to them, so seeing those times in comparison to our team was helpful,” said Dylan Cleary, junior.

Mark Snyder, senior, believes the vigorous workouts at ski camp will make him more successful in his future races.

“I got a lot of stuff put in the bank that I can use later while competing, and I can just pull out and do really good,” said Snyder.

Ski camp didn’t only involve intense workouts. The ski team also enjoyed the team bonding and beautiful scenery at ski camp. Nika Hadley, sophomore, found both these parts of ski camp in the optional night ski.

“It was so different being out there at night rather than during the day. We got to ski, but also just take in the scenery around us. It was breathtaking,” Hadley said.

Giants Ridge gave the ski team a chance to experience a different atmosphere than the trails they ski over and over again back home.

“There is a ton more variety at giants ridge. You’re not just skiing in circles. You can go and go and go, and the view is so pretty,” Dunnewind said.

For Katie Craemer, junior, having to avoid getting pummeled by her coach, Rob Fuhr, was a highlight of her ski camp experience.

“Fuhr would swerve while going downhill. It’s kind of like a game;  make sure you don’t hit Fuhr,” Craemer said.

Snyder ended up coming in second at the Mesabi race. Craemer was just trying to stay in balance.

“I tried not to fall, but I fell twice. On the plus side I didn’t hit any trees.  I’ve done that twice in the past too,” Craemer said.